Pollution Kills 1.7 Million Children Each Year: WHO

The new numbers equate to these pollutants being the cause of one in four deaths of children one month to five years old. (Image courtesy: Google)

Latest numbers are equating to this pollutants which are causing about one in four deaths of children who are one month to five years old.

Each year, environmental pollutants are leading to the death of an estimated 1.7 million children which are under five according to WHO.

Causes for the same includes unsafe water, lack of sanitation, poor hygiene practices and indoor and outdoor pollution and injuries.

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Margaret Chan who is the WHO director general says, “A polluted environment is a deadly one particularly for young children. Their developing organs and immune systems, and smaller bodies and airways, make them especially vulnerable to dirty air and water.”

Infants which were exposed to indoor or outdoor air pollution included secondhand smoke.

It has included risk of pneumonia during childhood and increased risk of chronic respiratory diseases which includes asthma for rest of their lives.

Global body even highlighted the increased risk of heart disease, smoke and cancer from the exposure to air pollution. Yet the newer report is highlighting the most common causes which includes diarrhea, malaria and pneumonia.

They are including of child death which are preventable through interventions which include insecticide treated bed nets, clean cooking fuels and improved access to clean water.

They are already available to communities which are most affected.

Other pollution prevention solutions which are mentioned in the report are removing mould and pests from housing, removing lead paints and ensuring sanitation and good nutrition at schools and use of better urban planning for creating more green spaces in cities.